Lighting fixture



Aug.- 1957' H. BROADWKN LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 51, 1955 INVENTOR.

HR me) Be one wnv Filed May 51, 1955 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Harm 5190110 WIN Unitcd States Patent LIGHTING FIXTURE Harry Broadwin, Laurelton, N. Y., assignor to Perfect- Line Manufacturing Corporation, Hicksvrlle, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 31, 1955, Serial No. 511,885

6 Claims. (Cl. 240-78) The present invention relates generally to lighting fixtures, and it has particular relation to a type of. lighting fixture that is adjustable at any time after. installation to an extent that it. may be mounted. flush with a wall or ceiling surface or recessed therein, as desired.

Heretofore, lighting fixtureshave been made for mounting either flush or recessed with respect of a wall or ceiling, but insuch cases the adjustment had to be made by means of. nailing two pieces of 1" x 2" wood cleats between the building joists and nailing the plaster ring to these cleats. This method of. adjusting the position of the fixture had many disadvantages in that. it. was time consuming and the fixture had to be. mounted and taken downv time and.

time again since its exact position could not be determined. except by trial and error methods, which depended entirely upon the ability to nail the wooden cleats in. the proper location with respect to the wall or ceiling.

With the present invention, such trial and error methods have been obviated, and. the lighting fixture. can be mounted either flush or recessed with respect of any wall or ceiling to the smallestv fraction of an inch quickly and accurately with only the use of a conventional screwdriver or hammer. Furthermore, the fixture can be changed at any time after its installation from. a flush to a.

recessed type, and vice versa, without difficulty.

An object. of the present invention is. to provide a lighting fixture that is simple, durable and inexpensive, and which can be mounted by any inexperienced person without the aid of special tools in either a flushv or recessed position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lighting fixture that may be mounted and adjusted after it has once been positioned on its supporting straps or bars and they have been fastened permanently to the. desired joists of a building, and, which may, after mounting, be adjusted to fit exactly the plane of the wall or ceiling even if it is out. of alignment from the vertical or horizontal.

A further object. of the invention is to provide an eflicient and inexpensive lighting fixture that is easily and quickly adjustable at any time after installation to any desirable position with respect of its wall or ceiling, and can also be adjusted to fit flush with any sloping wall or ceiling without the necessity of unsightly caulking.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention, which result in simplicity, economy and efficiency, will be apparent from the following detailed description, wherein two preferred forms of embodiment of the invention are shown, reference being. had for illustrative purposes to the accompanying, drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals indicate like parts, in which:

Figure l is. a side elevational view of a lighting fixture embodying the. principles of the invention, the same being shown mounted on. its supporting straps or bars, which are, in turn, shown secured between building; joists;

Figure: 2v is a. bottom plan view of the lighting fixture shown. in Figure 1., but with thebuilding joists left out;

Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lighting fixture. shown in Figure 2, the same having been taken substantially along the line IIIIII thereof, looking in the direction. of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the lighting recepticle shown in Figure l, but showing the same being mounted within a modified form of. mounting. ringv memher; and

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of. the lighting fixture shown. in Figure 4, showing in. greater detail the structural. features of the modified form of mounting member.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, there is shown. a metal plaster mounting ring member 10 and a metal lighting receptacle 11 secured fixedly and releasably together, both being made prefer.- ably of aluminum. The plaster mounting ring member 10 is. shown mounted between. spaced metalv straps or hanger bars 12 and 13 secured at. their opposite ends by nails 14 betweenadjacent. building joists 16 and 17.

The plaster mounting ring member 10, as best shown in. Figure 3, consists of. a plate member having a circular axial opening 21' therethrough, which is defined by a circular axial. flange 22, having a lateral flange 23, likewise circular in shape, formed integrally therewith and projecting radially outwardly therefrom. The radial flange 23 has two spaced slots 24 and 26 cut-out along opposite sides. of. its axial: opening 21, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2,. and the metal material 27 between each pair of. spaced. slots-24 and 26 is bent or depressed downwardly to provide a fastening means for receiving one of said metal straps or mounting bars 12 and13. Each strap or bar 12 and 13 is positioned through one pair of slots 24 and 26 and over said depressed portion of material 27. Each of said straps or bars 12 and 13 is provided at. opposite. ends. with a series of longitudinally spaced holes 28 adapted. to receive the shank of a nail 14 for securing the same to a joist. A plurality of longitudinally spaced holes 28 permits easy fastening between building joists regardless. of whether or not they are always spaced an equal distance apart.

Itv will. be. noted in. Figures 2 and 3 that the lateral or radial. flange 23 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and integrally formed tabs or projections 31, which: are three in number in the illustrations shown and which have been struck out along three sides and bent upwardly along its inner fourth side to a position substantially in vertical alignment with the axial flange 22, as best shown in Figure 3. Each upwardly projecting'tab 31 is apertured, as indicated. at 32, and each aperture is threaded internally, as indicated at 33, to provide suitable means for receivingfa: correspondingly threaded bolt 34, which has a relatively wide head 36.

Thetubular lighting receptacle 11 is of a size and shape adapted to fit slidably within the axial openings 21 of the plaster mounting ring member 10. It is of a substantial length as compared' to its diameter, and has one completely open end 37, which is flanked by a radial flange 41. The radial flange 41 projects outwardly from the receptacle 11 a distance sufiicient at least. to cover the axial opening 21 through the plaster ring mounting member 10 The opposite end. 38 of the receptacle 11 is. closed except for a small. axiali opening adapted to receive a conventional porcelain light socket 57'. The re ceptacle 11 has a series. of circumferentially spaced elongated slots 42 formed in: its; sides and extending. upwardly intermediate: its ends. The number of slots and their circumferential. spacing corresponds to the number of tabs 31: formed. in the plaster mounting ring member 10' so that they may bealigned for releasably securing'said members together. The. length of said slots and their number may be varied as: desired. It will be noted that- 3 the slots 42 are relatively narrow in width, which may be determined by the diameter of the head 36 of the bolt 34- used to secure the two members together.

It will be noted that the tubular receptacle 11 also has a series of circular openings 39 spaced circumferentially of its sides adjacent its upper closed end, which provide ventilation for facilitating the dissipation of heat generated by the light bulb (not shown).

In the drawings in Figures 1 to 3, the fixed position of the receptacle 11 in the plaster mounting ring member is at its highest position. In the event it is desired to lower or change the position of the receptacle 11 with respect of the plaster mounting ring member 10, it is only necessary to loosen the bolts 36 with a small screwdriver, pull the receptacle 11 downwardly the desired distance and then again tighten the bolts 36. In the event the wall or ceiling surface is slightly out of its normal vertical or horizontal plane, as in the case of a sloping surface, it will be obvious that the fixture can be adjusted to fit flush therewith by merely pulling one side further down than the other. It will be appreciated that the lighting fixture 10 is capable of being secured releasably in a number of difierent positions limited only by the length of its elongated slots 42, and these may be made almost any length limited only by the length of the receptacle 11.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown a modified form which the invention may assume. In this modification, the plaster mounting ring member 46 is made with its laterally or radially extending flange 23 having a square or rectangular shape while its axial flange 22 is retained in the shape of a circle. In all other respects, the construction of the lighting fixture is identical to that shown and described in Figures 1 to 3. However, there is shown in Figure 4 one additional Way of providing a greater recess for said receptacle 11. In this way, the metal straps or bars 49 and 51 are shown bent upwardly intermediate their ends, as indicated at 52 and 53, to provide a raised central portion upon which the plaster mounting ring member 46 may be secured, thereby increasing the distance to which the lighting fixture may be recessed between the joists 16 and 17. Of course, it will be appreciated that the bending of the straps or bars 49 and 51 must be accomplished after the plaster mounting ring member has been mounted thereon and before said bars are nailed to their respective joists 16 and 17.

The upper or closed end 38 of the lighting receptacle 11 is provided with a relatively small axial opening 56, which is adapted to receive a conventional light socket 57 made of porcelain. The light socket 57 is adapted to be mounted releasably on the outer side of the closed end 38 of the receptacle 11 by means of bolts 58 and 59 secured in spaced elongated slots 61, having an enlarged opening 62 at oneend of a diameter suflicient to permit the heads of the bolts 58 and 59 to pass therethrough and at the opposite end a small opening 63 adapted to fit snugly around the shanks of said bolts 58 and 59.

A conventional metal junction box 66 is likewise mounted on the outer side of the closed end of the receptacle 11 and over the porcelain socket 57 by means of bolts 67 and 68 extending through spaced elongated slots 69, having an enlarged opening 71 and a small opening 72. The junction box 66 also has an opening 73 on one side to permit the entrance of electric wires 74 and 76 connected with an outside source of electric supply (not shown).

In the installation of the lighting fixture, the plaster mounting ring member 10 is first mounted on its straps or cross-bars 12 and 13, which are then fastened by the nails 14 to the building joists 16 and 17. In this position, the plaster mounting ring member 10 may be slid along its mounting bars 12 and 13 to any desired position between the building joists 16 and 17. The building may now be plastered with the lower edge of 4 the plaster mounting ring member 22 positioned flush with the finished plaster coat (not shown). The lighting receptacle 11 may now be installed within the axial opening 21 of the plaster mounting ring member 10 with its porcelain socket member 57 and junction box 65 already mounted thereon.

As the installation of the lighting receptacle 11 is done through the axial opening 21 in the plaster mounting ring member 10, it is obvious that its position may be changed whenever desired since there is 'easy access to said fastening bolts 36 at all times when the light bulb has been removed from its socket member 57. When the bolts 36 have been loosened, the entire assembly may be raised or lowered, as desired, and, when the bolts 36 have been taken out, the entire assembly may be withdrawn completely from its plaster mounting ring member 10.

Although I have only described in detail two modifications which the invention may assume, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not to be so limited, but that various other modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a lighting fixture, a plaster mounting ring member having an opening therethrough for receiving a tubular lighting receptacle, a pair of mounting straps adapted to be secured between building joists, means carried by said mounting ring slidably engaging said pair of mounting straps, a plurality of spaced supporting members carried by said mounting ring member, a tubular lighting receptacle fitting slidably within said opening in said mounting ring member, a plurality of spaced cooperating elongated slots on said lighting receptacle for connection with the supporting members of said mounting ring, and means secured to the supporting members and said slotted means for adjustin the position of said lighting receptacle along the axis of said mounting ring member.

2. In a lighting fixture, a plaster mounting ring member having an axial opening therethrough for receiving an elongated tubular lighting receptacle, a pair of mounting straps adapted to be secured between building joists, means carried by said mounting ring on opposite sides of said axial opening slidably engaging said pair of mounting straps, a plurality of spaced supporting members carried by said mounting ring member and spaced circumferentially of said axial opening, a tubular lighting receptacle fitting slidably within said axial opening in said mounting ring member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced cooperating elongated slots on said lighting receptacle. for connection with the supporting members of said mounting ring, and means secured to the supporting members and said slotted means for adjusting the position of said lighting receptacle along the axis of said mounting ring member.

3. In a lighting fixture, a plaster mounting ring having an axial opening therethrough for receiving an elongated tubular lighting receptacle, a pair of mounting straps adapted to be secured between building joists, spaced means carried by said mounting ring on opposite sides of said axial opening slidably engaging said pair of mounting straps, a plurality of upwardly extending tabs spaced circumferentially of said axial opening and carried by said mounting ring, a tubular lighting receptacle fitting slidably within said axial opening in said mounting ring, a series of circumferentially spaced elongated slots on said lighting receptacle for connection with said tabs of said mounting ring, and means secured to said mounting ring and said slots for adjusting the position of said lighting receptacle along the axis of said mounting ring member.

4. In a lighting fixture, a plaster mounting ring having an axial opening therethrough for receiving an elongated tubular lighting receptacle, said mounting ring having an axial flange and a lateral flange, said lateral flange having av series of circumferentially spaced projecting tabs bent upwardly therefrom substantiallyin the plane of said axial flange, each of said tabs having an internally threaded aperture therethrough for receiving a fastening bolt, a pair of mounting straps adapted to be secured between building joists, spaced means carried by said lateral flange of said mounting ring on opposite sides of said axial opening slidably engaging said pair of mounting straps, a tubular lighting receptacle having one end completely open fitting slightly within said axial opening in said mounting ring and having a radial flange of a width covering said axial opening, a series of circumferentially spaced slots extending longitudinally of the sides and intermediate the ends of said lighting receptacle for connection with said mounting ring, said slots being spaced for alignment with the threaded apertures of said tabs of said mounting ring, and means including fastening bolts secured to said mounting ring tabs and said slots for adjusting the position of said lighting receptacle along the axis of said mounting ring member.

5. In a lighting fixture, a plaster mounting ring member having a circular opening therethrough for receiving a cylindrically shaped lighting receptacle, said mounting ring member consisting of a radial flange having an axial flange projecting downwardly therefrom, a pair of mounting straps adapted to be secured between building joists, depressed means formed integrally with said radial flange on opposite sides of said opening slidably engaging said pair of mounting straps, a plurality of circumferentially spaced integrally formed tab means carried by said mounting ring in alignment with said axial flange, each of said tabs having an internally threaded opening for engaging a correspondingly threaded bolt, a cylindrically shaped lighting receptacle having its lower end open and its upper end closed, said open end having a radial flange of a diameter greater than the diameter of said axialopening in said ring member, said receptacle having a plurality of spaced cooperating elongated slots extending upwardly from a point adjacent its open flanged end for connection 'with the tabs of said mounting ring, and threaded bolts secured to said tabs and slotted means for adjusting the position of said receptacle along the axis of said mounting ring member.

6. In a lighting fixture, a plaster mounting ring member having a circular opening therethrough for receiving a cylindrically shaped lighting receptacle, said mounting ring member consisting of a radial flange having an axial flange projecting downwardly therefrom, a pair of mounting straps adapted to be secured between building joists, depressed means in said radial flange on opposite sides of said opening slidably engaging said pair of mounting straps, a plurality of circumferentially spaced integrally formed tab means carried by said mounting ring in alignment with said axial flange, each of said tabs having an internally threaded opening for engaging a correspondingly threaded bolt, a cylindrically shaped lighting receptacle having its lower end open and its upper end closed, said open end having a radial flange of a diameter greater than the diameter of said axial opening in said ring member, said receptacle having a plurality of spaced cooperating elongated slots extending upwardly from a point adjacent its open flanged end for connection with the tabs of said mounting ring, said receptacle having a series of spaced openings adjacent its upper closed end to facilitate the dissipation of heat from its light bulb, and threaded bolts secured to said tabs and slotted means for adjusting the position of said receptacle along the axis of said mounting ring member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,493,487 Frankenstein May 13, 1924 1,782,791 Nielsen Nov. 25, 1930 2,456,903 Versen Dec. 21, 1948 2,518,936 Roberts Aug. 15, 1950 2,536,799 Divizia Jan. 2, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 278,178 Great Britain Oct. 6, 1927 

